The Fastest Custom T-Shirt Printing Companies

I’m a big fan of creating custom gear for special events and everyday wear… but I’m not a big fan of waiting forever for it to arrive. Call me impatient, but I’d like to be able to submit a design and then wear it in days, not weeks.

So I recently spent some serious time diving into the world of screen printing and embroidery providers to discover which online custom t-shirt company can deliver the goods — on time and at a high standard.

Tasked with printing staff shirts for a corporate event or fundraiser? Need team uniforms for your school or rec league? Got a bachelorette coming up fast and want the perfect themed tops for the squad? Read on to discover a few worthy print partners that’ll honor your schedule and won’t break the bank.

At a Glance

• Best Overall Rush Options: BlueCotton
• Best Next-Day Service for Group Orders: Same Day Tees
• Best for Same-Day Pickup (in Chicago): One Hour Tees
• Best Next-Day Service for Single Items: 24 Hour Tees
• Best Budget Rush Printing: Bolt Printing
• Best 2-Day Service for Single Items: RushOrderTees
• Best for College and Student Groups: Underground Printing
• Best Satisfaction Policies: 4Imprint
• Best for Multiple-Address Shipping: Custom Ink

What I Looked For

• Shipping options: Since swift delivery is the goal, I looked for websites that offered several different shipping options, including rush service. Guaranteed delivery dates were definitely a major bonus!
• Selection: The shops on this list generally offer a selection of men’s, women’s, and unisex styles, as well as tank tops, V-necks, and long-sleeve tees, so you’ll have some good choices no matter the event.
• Order minimums: Ordering custom garments in bulk can lead to big discounts, but sometimes you just need a handful of shirts for a girls’ night out. It’s only frustrating to get hyped up about a supplier just to find out that you need to order 50+ pieces.
• Ease of use: Everyone is busy nowadays, so having a simple, organized website is key.  Was it easy to find what I was looking for? Did the filters make sense or just make it more confusing? Were the design and ordering processes intuitive? Did a 15-minute task take 45?

Now that you know what you’re looking for, let’s get into it.

Best Overall Rush Options: BlueCotton

Fastest shipping option: 1 business day 

When it comes to shipping options, BlueCotton knows that one size does not fit all. In addition to their free standard shipping (which arrives within 10 business days), they also offer 1-, 3-, and 5-day rush order options. 

Their baseline Rush service is delivered within five business days, with an upcharge of 15% of your order total or $25, whichever is greater. Super Rush costs 25% of your total or $39, and it will arrive at your door within 3 business days. If you need your shirts within one business day, you can pay an additional 40% or $69 — although your selection will be limited to a handful of options.

There’s a minimum order quantity of six, with larger orders receiving increasing discounts. All delivery timelines are guaranteed, which is awesome for peace of mind. And since they handle their production in-house, you don’t have to worry about outsourcing-related delays.

For the shirts themselves, you can go with either screen printing or embroidery, and their live chat is manned by real human beings who can walk you through your options and offer helpful feedback. 

Best Next-Day Service for Single Items: 24 Hour Tees

Fastest shipping option: 1–3 business days

24 Hour Tees also offers Standard, Rush, and Super Rush Options and boasts a 99.9% on-time delivery rate. Since they have no order minimum, you can order your last-minute “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” shirt on March 15th and get it in time for the St Patrick’s Day bar crawl. 

Their standard delivery is expected to arrive in two to four weeks, while their Rush option has a four- to 13-day turnaround. Again, this option is restricted to a smaller product catalog, but the selection is actually decent and includes a number of different styles, including long-sleeved tees and tanks. Their next-day Super Rush option is limited to only two shirts: the budget-conscious Gildan 5000 Heavy Cotton Tee and the more premium Bella+Canvas 3001 Blended Tee, which are both popular options. 

Unfortunately, their shipping fees are not outlined on their website, and you do need to move through the order process to get an estimate.

Best 2-Day Service for Single Items: RushOrderTees

Fastest shipping option: 2 business days

RushOrderTees is another vendor that has no minimum quantities, and they’ll work with you whether you’re making a pair of Just Married hoodies or a 50-piece drop for your Etsy shop. They carry hundreds of t-shirt styles, so you can easily match your order to your overall vision. One downside is that they outsource their printing to many different third-party printers. This isn’t a huge deal if you’re just ordering a one-off design, but if you’ll be re-ordering, it’s important to know that future orders may have slight differences in terms of ink color and overall quality. You also run the risk of third-party shipping delays.

While their third-party printing model does bump up your costs a little bit, their standard shipping is free. If you want your shirts delivered sooner than 9–12 business days, their rush shipping option guarantees delivery as quickly as two business days. Any faster, and they recommend calling their CS team.

Each product page clearly lists the expected delivery dates for both their standard and rush shipping, so you’ll know when to expect your order before you even submit it. 

Best Next-Day Service for Bulk Orders: Same Day Tees

Fastest shipping option: 1 business day (local same-day pickup by request)

The name is a big promise, and Same Day Tees backs it up. Get your order and design in by 10 a.m. Central, and they’ll print and ship it that same day so it shows up at your door the next business day. They’re based in Frankfort, Illinois, just outside Chicago, so if you’re local and need your shirts even sooner, you can call to set up a pickup.

However, to keep things that fast, the same-day menu is pretty limited. It sticks to Gildan basics, mainly the Heavy Cotton tee in white or ash gray and the Heavy Blend hoodie, with youth tee sizes available too. There’s also a 12-piece minimum on same-day rush items, so this isn’t the place for one last-minute shirt.

If you can wait a few more days, the rest of their catalog opens up. They carry thousands of items, from polos and button-ups to hats and workwear, with rush delivery in as little as three business days. Pricing starts at $5.95 a shirt when you order 100.

All printing happens in-house, which is usually why they can get it out the door rather quickly, and they offer screen printing, embroidery, DTG, and transfers. My favorite detail? When you call, you talk to someone on-site who’s working on your order, not a random call center.

Best Satisfaction Policies: 4Imprint

Fastest shipping option: 1 business day

4Imprint has both a 100% satisfaction and a low-price guarantee — if you find a cheaper option within 30 days of ordering, let them know, and they promise to refund you double the difference. That’s, quite frankly, wild, and I’ve found no other print shop that offers anything close to this.

In terms of their shipping speed, it’s a bit more complicated. If you’re ordering less than X number of shirts (X can equal 144 or 1008, depending on the shirt style) with fewer than two ink colors and just one imprint location, your order will be ready to ship in five business days. However, this doesn’t include art preparation time.

The actual delivery timeline will depend on your shipping choice: You can choose ground, 2-day, or their 24-Hour Rush shipping service, which costs $40. If it doesn’t arrive on time, they’ll refund your order. And if you need an item faster than their usual production timeline, their customer service team is open to working with you. 

One significant perk is that their product catalog includes customer fit ratings, so you know whether the sizing runs true for whichever shirt you’re looking at. This is incredibly handy and can save you the heartbreak of receiving a poor fit. However, the shirts I looked at mostly had order minimums of 18 pieces (though a few only required 12), so if you’re making shirts for a smaller group, 4Imprint may not be the best option. 

Best for Multiple-Address Shipping: Custom Ink

Fastest shipping option: 3 business days

Tired of being the planner/wrangler for your squad? Custom Ink takes the mental load and busywork out of your hands. Their group order process lets everyone place their own orders directly, so you don’t have to worry about spreadsheets. Everyone can access the group order, enter their size, pay for their shirt, and have it shipped to their home. This is amazing for everything from sports teams and event staff to bridal parties and fun runs. 

Their two-week standard delivery is free if you’re shipping to one address, but shipping to multiple addresses will set each recipient back $10 for flat-rate delivery. If you opt to ship to a single address, their One-Week Rush Delivery fee comes to 15% of your order total, which isn’t too bad. If you need your shirts sooner, their Super Rush option will set you back 30% of your order total, and you’ll receive the items in 3 business days. Delivery timelines are displayed on both product listings and in the design studio, so no surprises here.

Unfortunately, they don’t appear to offer rush shipping for multiple-address shipping at this time. So while they’re indeed excellent in this niche, that doesn’t apply to shipping speed as well.

Overall, the website and studio are easy to use, and they carry a ton of items with no minimum order. Like RushOrderTees and 4Imprint, Custom Ink does outsource their printing, so the same warnings apply.

Best for Same-Day Pickup in Chicago: One Hour Tees

Fastest shipping option: 1 hour (local pickup)

If you’re in Chicago and your event is tonight, One Hour Tees is about as fast as it gets. You place your order online, and your shirts are ready to pick up at their shop on North Damen Avenue in about an hour.

Pricing is based on speed, so it’s easy to see what you’re paying for the rush. A full-color print on a basic light tee starts at $7.99 if you can wait seven or more business days, $21.99 for next-day, and $24.99 for one-hour service (darker shirts cost slightly higher). There’s no minimum order, no screen printing setup fees, and bulk discounts on bigger orders.

Not local? They still ship anywhere in the US through UPS, but the one-hour option only works if you can get to the store.

A few things to know before you order. One-hour slots can fill up for the day, so don’t leave it until the afternoon. They won’t print on shirts you bring in yourself, and while they’ll set up print-ready art, text, and clipart, they don’t design logos from scratch. And, if you cancel on the day your order is due, don’t expect a refund. Also, their FAQ page is very sarcastic. I thought it was pretty funny, and it tells you a lot about how fun their company culture is.

Best Budget Printing: Bolt Printing

Fastest shipping option: Ships next business day

Bolt Printing is a Connecticut shop that pairs low prices with a quick rush option. Their free shipping comes with a 9–14 business day production window, which is slower than most others on this list. But if you order by 3 p.m. Eastern and pick paid shipping, they’ll print your shirts and send them out the next business day, with delivery in one to two days after that.

Their prices were some of the lowest I came across. Bolt’s house-brand cotton tee starts at around $4, and the Gildan 5000 starts at about $4.33. 

As for printing, they offer screen printing, DTG, DTF, and embroidery. They pick the best method based on your design and quantity, so you don’t have to figure that part out.

The design studio is easy to use, and if you get stuck, their in-house design team can help.

Best for College and Student Groups: Underground Printing

Fastest shipping option: 2 business days

Underground Printing got its start in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and now has around 30 stores, mostly in college towns. That makes them an excellent choice if you’d rather talk to someone in person or skip shipping and pick up your order yourself.

Their catalog goes well beyond tees, with name brands like Nike and Patagonia, plus drinkware and other promo products. They’re also licensed to print official logos for more than 200 colleges and universities, which is a big plus for student groups and alumni events. 

Shipping is free on every order, and there’s no minimum. If you’re short on time, their 2-Day Lightning Rush gets your order to your door in two business days. Rush is only available on a set collection of products, but there are still quite a few to choose from. The pricing isn’t spelled out on the site, so you’ll need to go through checkout or reach out to their team for a quote.

And if you’re wrangling a big group, their POGO pop-up stores let everyone order and pay for their own gear. They back it all with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Finding the Best, Fastest Custom Shirt Printing Company for Your Needs

Depending on your order size and when you need it delivered, there are some great options out there for you. 

Two custom apparel companies in particular really stand out from the competition.

With their free standard shipping and multiple rush options, BlueCotton is both speedy and flexible, and their low order minimums keep them accessible to a range of creators. They don’t have the biggest product catalog, but it’s well-curated with a nice mix of name brands and budget options. Overall, they’re a solid choice for anyone who needs 6+ custom shirts quickly. 

If you’re printing just a handful of items, or if you want to pair your shirts with some matching swag, RushOrderTees also offers swift shipping and timeline transparency, so you won’t be left wondering when to expect your package. Their large garment catalog lets you choose from countless cuts, colors, and styles, so you can create exactly what you want.

One quick note: the shipping information discussed in this article generally covers the 48 contiguous states only. If you’re shipping to HI, AK, or internationally, be sure to double-check the policies and pricing!